If Felipe Massa wins his case against F1 and Bernie Ecclestone to be crowned 2008 F1 world champion, it would deprive Lewis Hamilton of his first of his seven titles.
But the Brazilian insists his fight is not “not against” Hamilton, but against a result which was “manipulated”.
On November 2, 2008, Massa was Formula One world champion for 38 seconds before Hamilton overtook Timo Glock on the final lap to edge the Ferrari driver for the title by a single point. Despite his obvious disappointment, Massa accepted that he had lost the title.
At least that was the case until last year, when former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone revealed that he and the FIA already knew about Crashgate that year and should have suppressed the result of the race.
“According to the statutes, we should have canceled the Singapore race in these conditions. This means that this would never have happened for the World Championship ranking. Felipe Massa would then have become world champion and not Lewis Hamilton.”
Massa is now fighting in court against Ecclestone, Formula 1 and the FIA for his right to the world title, and while he admits it will be difficult to overturn the result, he insists it is not impossible .
“It's about justice. This is what we are fighting for. In other sports the results have also been revised. Not yet in Formula 1, but now there is every reason to do it, because a race and therefore a championship were manipulated.”
“Until fifteen years after the incident, I heard everything and understood what had happened. And then, we can't let go. It was simply unfair. Everyone knows that what happened 'happened isn't fair.'
“I think it is unique that a driver physically goes to the civil court to attack powerful sports organizations like the FIA and FOM. I also hope to send a signal with this and show that everyone is free and strong enough to defend his rights.”
If Massa succeeds, it would mean Hamilton would lose his first world title, with the Briton going from seven to six world championship titles.
But the Brazilian is categorical: it is not a question of attacking Hamilton.
“My fight is not against Lewis, but against a race that was manipulated. And against the conspiracy that followed, which ultimately cost me the world title. All drivers are members of the FIA. The FIA has “moral obligation to treat its members fairly.”
“Can you imagine what it would have been like for me to become world champion in my own country, Brazil?”
“I will never get that feeling again. Winning the title in front of my own fans at Interlagos would have been something indescribably beautiful, something unforgettable. I will never know that feeling.”
“But justice, recognition as the official Formula 1 world champion of 2008, is something I have to fight for. And I will.”
